GCA Scholarships

Since 1928 when the Rome Prize Fellowship in Landscape Architecture was established, The Garden Club of America has funded more than 1,300 scholars. The GCA offers 27 merit-based scholarships in 12 areas.

Twelve of the scholarships are managed by GCA staff and volunteers. We contact universities, arboreta and botanic gardens to encourage them to advertise these scholarships to their students and interns. Selection committees comprised of the GCA and community volunteers read applications and propose outstanding scholars to be voted on in March each year. For fifteen of our scholarships, the specialized level of knowledge necessary to choose the most compelling research projects requires that we partner with the following outside organizations:

In 2015, 91 scholars were awarded over $315,000 to support a variety of academic endeavors ranging from summer environmental study and field work, to graduate level research. Their study will take place in institutions across the nation and some will conduct field work across the globe.

GCA Scholars go on to be leaders in their fields. Recently, a selection panel member reviewed a list of past recipients of the GCA awards in Tropical Botany, which were first awarded in the 1980s. These scholars are now well established in their careers. The selection panel member commented that the names appearing on the list are a “veritable who’s who” of the Systematics and Forest Ecology fields today. The Garden Club of America is deservedly proud of its scholarship program.

Scholarship Opportunities Available

The GCA now offers 27 merit based scholarships, fellowships and awards in the areas of horticulture and its related disciplines, botany, including medicinal and tropical, native bird habitat, conservation and ecological restoration, desert studies, landscape architecture, urban forestry, garden history and design, coastal wetlands, and pollinator research.

In March of 2015, 91 students and scholars were award over $315,000 to support a variety of academic endeavors ranging from summer environmental study and field work, to graduate level research. Their study will take place in institutions across the nation and some will do field work around the world.

GCA Scholarships - supporting the best and brightest and furthering environmental knowledge.